Presidential rivals laud volunteerism

NEW YORK -- Forgoing partisanship Thursday night, presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain recalled their own service to community and country on the anniversary of 9/11, saying they would urge Americans to help lift their neighbors and nation.

Speaking apart at a Columbia University forum titled "ServiceNation," the U.S. senators and Democratic and Republican nominees both supported providing new incentives for Americans to volunteer, but neither called for making service compulsory.

Both candidates said they would have asked Americans to do much more after 9/11, calling that dark time a rare opportunity to increase volunteerism to help protect and improve communities and the nation.

"We needed at that time to take advantage of the unity of the United States," said McCain, who spoke first.

"We probably still have that opportunity. Americans are so frustrated right now," he continued. "This is an opportunity to lead the nation ... and ask for more service."

Obama agreed, saying that "the desire for service was on the minds of everyone" immediately after 9/11, an urge that he believes can be rekindled for service in both the military and community.

"My sense is the country yearns for that, is hungry for that ... One of the primary objectives of my presidency would be to lift up the opportunities for service in a bipartisan fashion."

McCain and Obama briefly greeted each other, shaking hands and lightly embracing as the Republican left the stage and the Democrat readied for his appearance.

It was a rare day of harmony on the presidential campaign trail, as McCain and Obama declared a 24-hour truce to commemorate without political rancor the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

Earlier, the Republican and Democratic contenders appeared simultaneously at Ground Zero, walking together, laying roses in the pit of the former World Trade Center site and speaking with victims' families, police and firefighters. They made no speeches -- less than two months before Election Day.

Obama and McCain both have pointed to their own service as coming-of-age experiences early in their lives. McCain was a Navy pilot who was shot down and became a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, while Obama volunteered as a community organizer in Chicago.

If elected president, McCain said, he would sign legislation, titled the "Serve America Act," set to be introduced today by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), which seeks to increase opportunities for Americans to volunteer to help ease national problems like the high school dropout rate and pollution.

But McCain cautioned, "Government can't do it all. The essence of volunteerism starts at the grassroots level."

Private, religious and nonprofit charities should be encouraged to help more, too, he said.

Obama also praised the legislation but stressed the need for the government to provide greater opportunities to get Americans involved in volunteerism. For example, he proposed providing college tuition grants "in exchange for giving something back."

He recalled being paid $12,000 a year to set up job training and other programs in Chicago, but noted, "Ironically, it was harder for me to find that job than it was to find a job on Wall Street."

The candidates also praised each other.

"I applaud Senator Obama's commitment to national service," said McCain. For his part, Obama noted, "Senator McCain's service is legendary."